"... nothing intellectually compelling or challenging.. bald assertions coupled to superstition... woefully pathetic"
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pat and the Doukhobors
Late-breaking news from News Of The World: Pat Jay, noted Ball Bounces contributor, has ditched atheism and joined the Doukhobors. When asked about this startling development, he said, "I did it for the chicks."
You really can be ignorant and offensive at times, Ball. I cannot believe an adult Canadian “Christian” in the 21st Century can have as little knowledge of the Doukhobors than to reduce them to a silly and misogynist caricature. You go on at times about how Christianity is attacked by “Militant Atheists” and how persecuted Christians are in Canada, but the Doukhobors were actually a Christian sect that the Government actually tried to kill off, residential schools, mass arrests, the whole gambit.
Why do I know about Doukhobors? Because I have an interest in Canadian history and politics, and the intersection with religion. Consequently, I have more than one book on my shelf. Doukhobour history is interesting and telling. They seemed to me to be the most “Christian” of all the recent faith systems claiming to be so. By that, I mean they seemed to be the one who took the (reported) teachings of Jesus seriously, and tried to live by them: complete pacifism, the rejection of icons and church hierarchy, the renouncing of all possessions, caring for all living things to the point of self sacrifice…
Of course, like all religions, schisms, power politics, external and internal forces broke it up, with the splinter group who most self-identified as “fundamental” ended up being the one straying farthest from the core, resulting in the inevitable charismatic leadership and violence.
It would do you good to do spend some time learning about things you don’t understand (including more than a search on Wikipedia), instead of making silly or sexist jokes from a position of ignorance.
Ahh the famous Rick Ball wit -- "or at least half it."
You're about as funny as a whoppy cushion at a funeral -- don't quit your day job.
Should atheists treat orthodox Christianity with any less derision than you have treated this unorthodox variant (and other Christians all-too-commonly treat other faiths)?
Those who live in glass houses should perhaps contemplate avoiding throwing stones.
7 comments:
You really can be ignorant and offensive at times, Ball. I cannot believe an adult Canadian “Christian” in the 21st Century can have as little knowledge of the Doukhobors than to reduce them to a silly and misogynist caricature. You go on at times about how Christianity is attacked by “Militant Atheists” and how persecuted Christians are in Canada, but the Doukhobors were actually a Christian sect that the Government actually tried to kill off, residential schools, mass arrests, the whole gambit.
Why do I know about Doukhobors? Because I have an interest in Canadian history and politics, and the intersection with religion. Consequently, I have more than one book on my shelf. Doukhobour history is interesting and telling. They seemed to me to be the most “Christian” of all the recent faith systems claiming to be so. By that, I mean they seemed to be the one who took the (reported) teachings of Jesus seriously, and tried to live by them: complete pacifism, the rejection of icons and church hierarchy, the renouncing of all possessions, caring for all living things to the point of self sacrifice…
Of course, like all religions, schisms, power politics, external and internal forces broke it up, with the splinter group who most self-identified as “fundamental” ended up being the one straying farthest from the core, resulting in the inevitable charismatic leadership and violence.
It would do you good to do spend some time learning about things you don’t understand (including more than a search on Wikipedia), instead of making silly or sexist jokes from a position of ignorance.
I'm familiar with the Doukhobors and meant no offense to either you or them.
I assumed that the mischaracterization was so obvious that no-one would take it seriously.
Just trying to have some light-hearted fun.
Sorry.
I try not to be offensive, but, rather, to give as good as I get.
I do believe that being ignorant and offensive, especially intentionally, is objectively, as opposed to merely subjectively, wrong.
Glad to see your moral sense is in fine-working order. You are obviously wonderfully and marvelously made in the image of you-know-who!
It's one of the lines I have to try to walk when trying to make the blog lively and interesting.
Ahh the famous Rick Ball wit -- "or at least half it."
You're about as funny as a whoppy cushion at a funeral -- don't quit your day job.
Should atheists treat orthodox Christianity with any less derision than you have treated this unorthodox variant (and other Christians all-too-commonly treat other faiths)?
Those who live in glass houses should perhaps contemplate avoiding throwing stones.
I feel chastened. I'm going to try to cut down on the stone-throwing.
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